There are many headaches for parents when their daughters reach a more impressionable age; I guess our children are always impressionable, but it comes more apparent to the time of puberty. Although we can’t shield them from every negativity in the world, we should be helping them to grow and respect both, themselves and others. One key issue with children but particularly important with daughters, is helping them to understand what a realistic and healthy body image is.
If adults can become sensitive about their body image then there is nothing to say that our children can’t either. This is probably a well known fact, that teens are conscious about their looks; what is not so apparent though is how those with a healthy weight and good proportion can question their appearance. These individuals might not openly discuss these issues and as a parent you might not be aware until the problem is deeply embedded. Studies show that those who have a healthy weight but see themselves as too fat can go on to feel depressed about their image; these thoughts and feelings will worsen over time if not addressed.
There are many factors for why our children are questioning their bodies, and whether are not they are ‘perfect’ – the celebrities and models in the media certainly don’t help as teen girls aspire to look like their icons. Teaching our children about a realistic and healthy body image should start at home though and specifically with help from the mother. If you are negative about your image then it is likely that your child will follow in your footsteps; they too will start to scowl at their reflection.
One of the biggest role models of our children should not be the likes of skinny Kate Moss or Lindsay Lohan – it should be us, the parents, and we have to set an example of how to love and respect the body.
What do you think some of the causes are for body issues in our young and innocent and what steps have you taken to give impressionable teen daughters a better idea of a healthy and realistic body image?
Image: by PinkStock
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